Monitoring recently acquired HIV infections in the European context

In most EU/EEA countries, HIV epidemics are largely concentrated in subpopulations, namely men who have sex with men, migrants (particularly from countries with a high prevalence in the general population), and people who inject drugs. The introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the mid-1990s resulted in improved life expectancy for people diagnosed with HIV. Consequently, the number of AIDS cases and deaths has declined dramatically in countries where ART is readily available. Longer life expectancy and ongoing transmission has resulted in year-on-year increases in HIV prevalence and high rates of new diagnoses across Europe. The need to better understand the transmission dynamics of the epidemic and monitor prevention efforts in populations most at risk is therefore more critical than ever.